I am the Thunder Emperor in the fight

Time flies. Two years have passed since Night Falcon stepped into the core of the Black Sky Ancient Clan, became a disciple of Elder Black Nether, and joined the Shadow Palace.

Over the past two years, beneath the eternal darkness of the Black Sky Ancient Clan, undercurrents have continued to surge, but the overall situation has been subtly changing.

The name Night Falcon, which originated from a dark horse that rose to prominence during a trial, has gradually evolved into an indispensable figure among the younger generation of the Shadow Palace and even the Black Sky Ancient Clan.

Upon entering the Shadow Palace, Night Falcon did not immediately make a show of himself.

He knew that before he could establish a stable foundation, he needed to familiarize himself with the environment, understand the rules, and build a basic network of contacts.

He chose a profound book called 'Shadow True Explanation' as his main cultivation method. This technique is also considered top-notch in the core inheritance of the Black Heaven Ancient Clan. It is difficult for anyone without exceptional talent to master it, which perfectly matches the talent he has shown.

He lived a secluded life, immersing himself in studying the various dark magic manuals available in the hall. With the profound understanding of the origin of darkness brought by the Dark Ancestral Symbol, he learned this knowledge at an astonishing speed, often getting straight to the core and drawing inferences from one instance to another, which amazed even the deacons responsible for imparting skills.

At the same time, he began to selectively accept missions issued by the Shadow Temple.

They don't just patrol or collect resources; they specifically choose tasks that are more difficult, dangerous, but also offer rich rewards.

For example, clearing out an abandoned mine occupied by powerful shadow monsters, hunting down enemy spies who have infiltrated the Black Sky Domain to steal resources, or exploring a newly discovered ancient shadow ruin with unstable space.

In carrying out these missions, the Night Falcon demonstrated combat abilities, calm judgment, and efficient methods that matched, yet far surpassed, those of its peers, despite its lower-level Earthly Sovereign cultivation level.

He often operates alone or with only a small elite squad to complete mission objectives with minimal cost.

His fighting style remained concise and sharp, and his use of shadow power became even more refined and exquisite. The mid-level sacred artifact, the Touch of Eternal Night, displayed great power in his hands. Dark threads appeared and disappeared unpredictably, possessing multiple functions such as binding, cutting, detection, and array formation.

His numerous impressive mission completion records earned him a considerable number of merit points.

Using these merit points, he not only exchanged for more rare cultivation resources and magical jade slips, but also began to consciously exchange for special resources that would benefit the Black Nether Elders' faction or allow him to make connections with other powerful figures. Gradually, he earned the reputation of being "capable" and "sensible" within the faction.

At the end of the year, in the Shadow Hall's internal competition, Night Falcon, with his exquisite shadow manipulation skills and powerful combat ability, defeated several opponents of the same level and finally ranked in the top ten. He received a "Shadow Initiation" reward from the hall, which made his foundation more solid and his reputation spread among the young disciples of the Shadow Hall.

Two years later, the Night Falcon knew that it could begin to gradually demonstrate its reputation and prestige.

His accumulation period ended, and he began to participate more actively in the affairs of the Shadow Palace and the Black Sky Ancient Clan.

He accepted the invitation from the Shadow Temple's "Enforcement Team" to become one of its squad leaders.

The enforcement team is responsible for maintaining order in the Shadow Temple, handling internal disputes, and sometimes assisting in dealing with some external conflicts within the clan. They wield considerable power, have a wider reach, and find it easier to build prestige.

However, it is clear that the law enforcement team also causes the most trouble and incurs the most hatred.

Shadow Palace, the quiet room of the deputy commander of the enforcement team.

The night falcon was closing its eyes and concentrating, trying to comprehend the profound meaning of "shadow transformation and the interplay of reality and illusion" in the True Explanation of Shadow.

A faint black mist swirled around him, sometimes condensing into lifelike birds and beasts, and sometimes dispersing into invisible fluctuations, demonstrating his increasingly profound control over the power of shadow.

Just then, a communication crystal embedded in the door of the quiet room flashed a dark red light rapidly, a signal indicating an emergency.

The night falcon slowly opened its eyes, a hint of displeasure at being interrupted in its pure black pupils, but it quickly regained its composure.

He pointed, and the crystal projected a stream of information and a slightly anxious voice.

"Captain Night Falcon! Emergency! The No. 3 mining area of ​​the Dark Crystal Mine in the southeast of the Black Nightmare Mountains has been forcibly entered by the Bone-Eating Sect under Elder Yin Bone. They claim that the ownership of a part of the mining area is in doubt, order us to stop work, and have injured several of our supervisors and guards!"
The opposing side was led by Bone Owl, the personal disciple of the Bone-Eating Sect Master, and two elders, all of whom were at the Lower Earthly Sovereign level. There were also more than ten Supreme Realm experts, and their attitude was extremely arrogant!

The mine management has activated defensive measures to temporarily halt the operation, but it is feared they cannot hold out for long. They are requesting immediate assistance from the enforcement team!

The information also included the location of the mining area, the general course of the conflict, and brief intelligence on the other side's key personnel.

“Elder Yin Bone… Bone-Eroding Sect…” A cold glint flashed in Night Falcon’s eyes.

Elder Yin Gu and Elder Hei Ming have always been at odds, often clashing over the allocation of resources and the power of discourse within the clan. Their subordinate forces are mostly vassal forces that cultivate unorthodox ghost paths, corpse paths, and poison techniques, and they act ruthlessly and insidiously.

The Bone-Eating Sect is one of the larger ones, specializing in bone-eating poison techniques and manipulating bones, and has a bad reputation.

This conflict was clearly a pretext used by the other side to deliberately provoke and suppress the Black Nether Elder's business empire, and to seize profits.

"A mere vassal sect dares to directly attack the businesses under Elder Heiming's command? It seems they think my faction has been too lenient lately."

The Night Falcon stood up, and the dark mist surrounding it suddenly receded, revealing a chilling aura.

As the current squad leader of the enforcement team, it is his duty to handle such internal conflicts, especially when it involves the interests of his own faction.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately issued instructions to the on-duty members of the enforcement team via a communication talisman: "Order the fifth squad to prepare for battle, assemble in the square in front of the hall after half an incense stick's time, and follow me to the No. 3 mining area of ​​the Black Nightmare Mountains."

Notify logistics to prepare the Shadow Airships.

The commands are concise and powerful.

He then changed into the uniform representing his position within the law enforcement team.

A well-tailored black outfit woven from special shadow spider silk, with silver thread embroidered along the edges with chains and swords representing law enforcement and order, covered by a dark-patterned cloak of the same material.

The core disciple token of the Shadow Palace and the seal of the enforcement team hung at his waist, and the Eternal Night Tentacle Gloves quietly appeared on his fingers, blending into his clothing.

He did not wait for the main force to fully assemble. With a swift movement, he left the meditation room like a shadow and arrived first at the square in front of the palace.

A moment later, a line of twelve law enforcement officers, each with a sharp aura and at least a seventh-grade Supreme cultivation level, quickly lined up, their movements perfectly synchronized, demonstrating excellent discipline.

A medium-sized Shadow Flying Boat, about ten zhang long, entirely black, and with runes for concealment and acceleration engraved on its hull, is also ready.

"Board the ship, full speed ahead." Night Falcon said succinctly, taking the lead into the main cabin of the airship.

The team members were already used to their stern-faced captain and followed him silently.

The flying boat transformed into an inconspicuous black streak, silently tearing through the dark purple sky and speeding towards the Black Nightmare Mountains.

Inside the cabin, the Night Falcon closed its eyes to rest, but in reality, its divine sense was connected to the core of the airship, constantly receiving the latest information from the mining area.

The enemy's arrogance grew, and they began attempting to attack the weak points of the mine's defensive formation. About half an hour later, the unique, rugged mountains of the Black Nightmare Mountains, which looked as if they had been soaked in thick ink, came into view.

Mining Area No. 3 is located in a valley. At this moment, spiritual light is flashing at the entrance of the valley, and the array shield is flickering, clearly indicating that it is under attack.

Outside the valley, there were about twenty people in shadow, with the three leading them having the most powerful auras. They were none other than Bone Owl and his two elders from the Bone-Eating Sect.

They were relaxed and unhurried, pointing and gesturing, occasionally letting out sinister laughs, while the Black Nether faction members in the mining area relied on the formation for defense, creating a tense atmosphere.

The Shadowship landed silently in the shadows several miles from the valley, concealing its presence.

"You will remain here and blockade the outer perimeter of the valley to prevent anyone from escaping or sending a message. No one is to enter without my order," Night Falcon instructed his deputy captain, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Captain, the enemy has three lower-level Earthly Sovereigns, and you are all alone..." The vice-captain said with some concern.

“It’s alright.” Night Falcon interrupted him, his pure black eyes looking towards the valley.

"A bunch of clowns, no need to make a fuss, just guard the perimeter."

Having said that, he vanished from the flying boat in a flash, disappearing into the darkness of the mountains and forests like a true shadow, silently heading towards the site of the conflict in the valley.

At the mouth of the valley, the members of the Bone-Eating Sect were shouting and making a ruckus.

The leader, Bone Owl, was a tall, thin young man with a deathly pale face and sunken eyes. He wore a black robe embroidered with pale bone patterns and held a pale bone staff made from human leg bones. The staff head was inlaid with a skull that glowed with a ghostly green light, exuding an evil aura. His cultivation level was at the peak of the lower Earthly Supreme realm.

The two elders beside him were quite different. One was as thin as a rake, with ten black fingers, clearly having mastered the Poison Palm technique. The other was obese and bloated, with an abnormal bluish-gray skin and a faint putrid odor emanating from his breath. Both were at the lower level of Earthly Sovereign.

"Listen up, you people inside! This extension of the mine has been marked by my Bone-Eroding Sect since ancient times! Your unauthorized mining is a violation of the rules!"

Dismantle the formation immediately, hand over the mined Xuan Crystals, and compensate us for our losses, and we might spare your lives!
Otherwise, once we break through this tortoise shell, we'll make you suffer the agony of being pierced by ten thousand erosions!" The Bone Owl's voice was sharp, filled with sarcasm and threat.

Inside the mining area's formation, a middle-aged man who appeared to be in charge had a livid face and angrily said, "Nonsense! The boundaries of this mining area have long been defined, so where did your Bone-Eating Sect's mark come from?"

It's clear you were greedy after discovering this new rich mine and deliberately provoked us! I've already reported this to the enforcement team. Once they arrive, let's see how arrogant you'll be then!

"Enforcement team? Heh, by the time they arrive, this place will already be a ruin!" Bone Owl grinned maliciously, waving his bone staff.

"Elders, give it your all and break this formation!"

The two elders of the Bone-Eating Sect responded, each activating their poisonous skills and corpse energy, which, together with the Bone Owl's bone-eating spiritual light, fiercely bombarded the same point of the array's protective barrier, causing the barrier to shake violently and its light to dim further.

Just as the formation was on the verge of collapse, and Bone Owl and his men revealed smug and cruel smiles.

A calm, almost indifferent voice, like a cold spring in winter, suddenly rang out at the mouth of the valley, clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"Who gave you the audacity to run wild here?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried a peculiar penetrating power and oppressive force, causing the three Bone Owls who were attacking the formation to pause in their movements. Everyone inside and outside the mining area involuntarily turned to look in the direction of the sound.

From the shadows at the entrance of the valley, a tall and slender figure slowly stepped out.

He was dressed in a well-tailored Shadow Enforcer outfit, his cloak billowing, his face somewhat blurred in the dim light, only his pure black eyes, like two bottomless ancient wells, indifferently scanning the scene.

Wherever their gaze fell, the Supreme Realm disciples of the Bone-Eating Sect felt a strange palpitation and subconsciously took a half-step back.

"Who are you?" Bone Owl frowned. Sensing that the newcomer's aura was only that of a lower-level Earthly Sovereign, he felt a little relieved. However, the other party's calm and unhurried attitude, as if they were nothing, made him very uncomfortable.

Night Falcon did not answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at the crumbling mining formation and the Black Nether faction members inside, whose faces were filled with anticipation and worry, before turning his gaze back to the three members of the Bone Owl faction.

"Night Falcon, captain of the fifth squad of the Shadow Palace Enforcement Team." He slowly announced his identity, his tone calm yet carrying the authority unique to enforcers.

"You are here to deal with the dispute. Now, cease your attack immediately, withdraw from the mining area, surrender, and cooperate with the investigation."

"Enforcement team?" Upon hearing this, Bone Owl's expression hardened, but he quickly replied in a cold voice.

"A mere squad leader, what an arrogant attitude! Too bad, this is a private matter of my Bone-Eroding Sect, and it's probably none of your business! If you know what's good for you, get out of here, or I'll deal with you too!"

The two elders beside him also let out strange laughs, clearly not taking the Night Falcon seriously.

All three of them were lower-level Earthly Sovereigns, while the other party was only one.

So what if they're law enforcement? They have a Supreme Elder standing behind them. What gives them the right to be so arrogant?
The night falcon seemed oblivious to the insults and threats, merely raising its eyes slightly, its pure black pupils seemingly shimmering with a ghostly light.

"I'll say it one last time: stop the attack, withdraw from the mining area, and surrender. Otherwise, you will be treated as an attack on the ancient clan's industry and an assault on law enforcement personnel, and you will be killed without exception!"

As the last four words were uttered, a chilling killing intent mixed with pure dark pressure spread out like an invisible tide, making the temperature at the entrance of the valley seem to drop several degrees.

Bone Owl's face darkened, completely enraged by the other party's unyielding and increasingly assertive attitude.

"You're asking for it! Since you're courting death, I, the young master, will grant your wish! Elders, seize this arrogant brat first!"

"Yes! Young Master!"

The gaunt elder and the obese elder both shouted at the same time and pounced on the night falcon from the left and right!

The gaunt elder's palms were as black as ink, emanating a foul stench; this was his signature move, the Corrupting Heart Poison Palm.

The obese elder let out a low roar, his body seemed to swell even larger, his skin gleaming with a metallic bluish-gray luster, like a rampaging iron corpse, and with a punch he threw out, the corpse energy billowed out!

The two worked together seamlessly, their poisonous palm strikes subtle and cunning, targeting vital points and meridians.

Corpse Fist is fierce and domineering, with great force and weight, blocking any space for evasion.

Even a low-level Earthly Sovereign would be overwhelmed and confused in the face of such an attack.

However, the Night Falcon's expression remained completely indifferent! (End of Chapter)